The United States has warned Iran about the actions of its employees at the United Nations after two guards from its UN mission were found videotaping the New York waterfront, a senior State Department official said.
However, the official Thursday denied a broadcast report that the two Iranians, both of whom are due to leave the United States shortly, were being deported amid heightened fears of new terrorist attacks, AFP reported. "Frankly, it's not a big deal," the official said. "They were stopped by a police officer who asked them some questions.
"The officer was satisfied and let them go but the incident was reported up the chain of command and so we sent a note of warning to the Iranian mission saying they shouldn't be doing this," the official said.
"They are not going to be deported, but they were getting ready to leave anyway," the official said, adding that the original police report had said there was "nothing inherently suspicious in (the guard's) activity."
ABC News reported earlier that the pair was being expelled from the United States, reflecting a nationwide tightening of security as the US Independence Day holiday approaches.
Meanwhile, the United States will give Iran $300,000 in humanitarian aid to help it recover from an earthquake that killed 245 people, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said Thursday. He said the aid would be channeled through the United Nations, which is coordinating international help in line with a list of materials Iran said it needs following the magnitude 6.1 quake that hit northwest Iran on Saturday.
"We will be providing six 10,000-liter water bladders; two water purification systems, each capable of supporting 10,000 people a day; 5,000 wool blankets; 12,000 personal hygiene kits — soap, toothbrush, toothpaste," Boucher said. The U.N. Children's Emergency Fund will handle shipment and delivery, he said. (Albawaba.com)
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